Best Outdoor Projector Under $100

Best Outdoor Projectors Under $100

There’s just something about an outdoor movie that makes for a great night; the fresh air, the cool summer breeze, the night sky, the fire pit roaring. Throw in some blankets, chairs, fresh popcorn, some great people and life is good. We know everyone is on a budget. To help you get started on creating your ultimate outdoor movie theater, we put together a list so you can find the best outdoor projector under $100.

We’ll give you all the info you need to help you make the best decision on your home movie projector and what you will need to create your our outside movie theater. The movie projector is just one component of what you will need for your night. You will also need some sort of movie screen (inflatable screens, best screens around $100), speakers and media player. We will cover those items in others posts. For now, we will focus on just the outdoor projector. Specifically outdoor projects under $100. Keep in mind that these projectors are great for outdoor movies in the dark, with low light. Most are not suited for daytime use or business presentations.

So what do you need to think about when you purchase a projector for home outdoor movies? The main factors you should consider are lumens, resolution, input types and the size of the image it projects and at what distance. Let’s talk a little bit more about each.

Lumens

In easy terms, Lumens measure how bright a projector is. For a completely dark room or night viewing outside anything over 1000 lumens should be sufficient. As your viewing area gets brighter your projector’s lumen count will have to be increased. So if your backyard has lots of lights that will be on or if you are in a neighborhood with lots of lights, consider purchasing a projector with a higher lumen count.

Resolution

The projector’s resolution is essentially how clear the picture is. You will want to get a high definition projector. A high-resolution image is considered anything 720p and higher. Make sure that the projector you purchase has a resolution of at least 720p. Ideally, you would like to have 1080p for your projector.

Input Types

The input types will determine what type of media player can be used with the projector. Most projectors will require some type of media player. The most common media players are DVD/Blu-Ray players, laptops, gaming consoles and smartphones. Most of your newer players will have HDMI cable outputs so make sure your projector has HDMI inputs. Other popular input types are USB, SD, VGA, AV, audio, and wireless.

Image Size

The size of the image that can be projected clearly will vary by the projector. Pay attention to this and at what distance the projector needs to be away from your screen. You will need this information when you consider the spot of your outdoor movie. Make sure the screen will be your desired size and that you have a place to put the projector in order to achieve your desired screen size.

Some other factors to consider are contrast ratio, display technology, projector size and weight. If you are only using the projector once in a while I wouldn’t concern myself too much with these. These issues become more important if you want to use your projector for full-time home or business use. For outdoor movies, the 4 main features of the outdoor projector you want to concern yourself with are above.

So now that we have the basics out of the way. Here are some of the best projectors under $100 that you can purchase today and get your outside movie theater going.

Description: The Meyoung portable projector is perfect for connecting to any HDMI-enabled device such as PCs, laptops, Tablets, Blue-ray DVD player, Smartphones, and Media players (Music, Pictures, Video, TXT). This home portable projector can display Music, Pictures, and videos from smartphones (you need to purchase special cords) and supports video games in HD, such as PS4 and Xbox 1.

The projection screen can range from 50” to 130”. It also projects in full 1080p HD for a crystal-clear image. With 1200 lumens this projector will have super rich colors and clear image in the dark of night, in a courtyard or party. Great gift for family and friends. This projector will not be suitable for continuous home use or business use. For more details click on the image above.

Description: The ELEPHAS YG400 is a compact and portable home theater projector that enables you to take it anywhere you want. It is easy to set up and has excellent picture quality. Projecting at a full 1080p HD and 1200 lumens. This projector will be great for most media players with HDMI, USB, VGA and audio ports. Hook up your Xbox, Blu-Ray, computer or smartphone for an awesome family movie night, 4th of July party, sports event or video games.

This projector works best at night in a dark place. Not recommended for bright light environments such as business offices or during the day. Comes with a 12-month warranty and the LED bulb inside is estimated to run ≥30,000 Hours. For more information on this home movie projector click on the image.

Description: This projector is the perfect solution for those who would like a high power, cost effective outdoor projector. The device is characterized by a native resolution that is highest in its class. The projector supports full 1080P video input and has a projection size of 28” to 180”. It also features an image brightness of 1800 lumens. It will provide excellent color and clarity in dark environments and be perfect for outside movies The device will last for years, as the lamps lifespan is as long as 30000 hrs.

Description: The mini home projector has a projection image size of 32″ to 176″ with a projection distance 1.5-5m, which will provide a big-screen experience whether you’re watching a movie or a football game. The image size only can be adjusted by changing the distance. The best projector distance is about 2-2.5m with the image size of 130 inches, which can bring big screen entertainment for you.

This unit projects at 1500 Lumens, has low fan noise and a free HDMI cable. Its mini size is easy to take and install anywhere.

Description: Suitable for travel, camping, outdoor party, and dark environments. It also won’t take up too much space in your room or back yard. You can adjust the picture size from 50″ – 130″ (Best at 100″). 800 x 480 native resolution, 1080P with a contrast of 1000:1. A dark place with highly reflective surface will provide you a perfect home entertainment experience.

Description: This Ohderii is a high performance projector, 30% brighter than basic LED projectors, ideal for indoor or outdoor entertainment such as Watching movies and football games with super rich colors and clear images in dark night, in courtyard at dark circumstance ( NOT recommend for data presentations, like PDF, Excel, Text files). Ohderii portable projector can display pictures and videos from Smartphones (Special Cords not included). Supports Video Games in HD, such as PS4. Enjoy games from 28” to 180”.

Description: Portable design and easy to take anywhere, wonderful for outdoor travel. This projector has a professional appearance and is designed for ventilation which has largely improved the stability and lifetime of the unit. The LED lamp has a life of 20,000 hours. It projects at 1000 lumens and has a contrast ratio of 800:1. This is a little lower than other units on the list however it also has one of the lowest prices on the list as well.

The projector was 5 kinds of inputs HDMI, USB, AV, SD, and Card). Not recommended for PPT, Word, Excel or business presentations.

For more information on setting up your ultimate outside movie theater take a look at our other articles.